17-18 September 2022 at Onondaga Lake Park
After 3 years the Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival returns once again to Onondaga Lake Park. As in 2019 this event will feature traditional wooden stick crafters and other Haudenosaunee crafts; social dancing; presentations by the world renown lacrosse players, the Thompson Brothers, Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Makers and others; and the Randy Hall Memorial Master’s Lacrosse Tournament. Faithkeeper Oren Lyons reminds us, “When you play lacrosse with a wooden stick you play with all the trees and animals in the world. Plastic sticks are dead sticks and don’t have spirit.”
This year we are also adding a Restore Our Sacred Lake 5K Fun Run/Walk on September 17, 2022. The eagle has returned to Onondaga lake for the first time in over 200 years. We invite runners and walkers to come to Onondaga Lake for a day of celebration. This event will raise awareness of the importance of the lake and the urgency of furthering the cleanup efforts and the return of our sacred lake. Please bring artwork to display from children up to age 18 to show the importance of these efforts. We are excited to have our run celebrating the Eagle’s return as part of the Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival. When speaking about the United Nations Faithkeeper Lyons said, “I do not see a delegation for the four-footed. I see no seat for the eagles. We forget and we consider ourselves superior, but we are after all a mere part of the Creation. And we must continue to understand where we are. And we stand between the mountain and the ant, somewhere and there only, as part of the Creation.”
“This year we will return to Onondaga Lake for another Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival in September. We live in the heartland of Dehontsigwa’ehs (lacrosse)—homeland to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Over 1,000 years ago the game was first played at Onondaga Lake to help bring 5 warring nations together in peace. CNY has benefitted from this rich legacy, and as a result this area is a hotbed for lacrosse. There are nearly 1 million lacrosse athletes in the US today and it continues to be the fastest growing game in the world. Along with Maryland, New York is recognized with the most percentage of lacrosse players in the country. Unlike other sports, lacrosse offers us a unique educational opportunity to teach these Haudenosaunee values to young athletes and enthusiasts.” According to Philip Arnold, the President of the Indigenous Values Initiative, the organization sponsoring the event, and Founding Director of the Skä·noñh—Great Law of Peace Center.
With the festival, we are also holding the “Randy Hall Memorial Master’s Box Lacrosse Tournament.” Randy Hall, Akwesasne Mohawk Wolf Clan, passed away in January 2018. He loved lacrosse and was committed to the Onondaga Athletic Club where he coached and played. In 2013 Randy Hall asked Philip Arnold and Sandy Bigtree to help bring the game back to Onondaga Lake where over 1000 years ago the game was first played when the Peacemaker restored peace to five warring nations. The Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival will honor Randy Hall with this Masters Wooden Sticks Tournament. There will be referees, a tent for changing, a box sized field marked out on the grass with 4’x4’9” nets. Players will be responsible for helmets, gloves, and sticks. One wooden stick is required on the field at all times. Teams will be responsible for their jerseys. Ages 35+; 8-20 players per team.
The Festival will be held in the great lawn behind the welcome center at the southern end of Onondaga Lake Park. It is free and good event for the entire family. Learn more at https://indigenousvalues.org/laxweekend22/ .
RESTORE OUR SACRED LAKE 5K RUN/WALK Saturday SEPTEMBER, 17
Restore Our Sacred Lake 5k Run/Walk, Saturday, September 17, 2022. The race begins at Onondaga Lake Wegmans Park and registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with the race beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Cost: Free.
Register and learn more at www.aila.ngo/5K
Schedule of events:
Saturday September 17th Schedule
- Restore our Sacred Lake 5K Fun Run/Walk 7AM registration Run begins at 8:00 AM
- Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival begins at 9:00 AM
- Randy Hall Masters Tournament Games begin at 10:00 AM
- Social Dancing at 1:00
- Talks by the Thompson Brothers, Wooden Stick Makers, & Honored Guests
Sunday September 18th Schedule
- Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival begins at 9:00 AM
- Randy Hall Masters Tournament Games begin at 10:00 AM
- Social Dancing at 1:00
- Talks by the Thompson Brothers, Wooden Stick Makers, & Honored Guests
- Masters Tournament Awards Ceremony at 2:00PM
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Contact:
Philip P. Arnold
Indigenous Values Initiative
315-885-7503
[email protected]
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Religion News Service or Religion News Foundation.
